A crowd in Atlanta protests for Medicaid expansion last week, one day before the start of the 2014 legislative session of the Georgia Assembly. Georgia is one of 25 states that has yet to expand Medicaid. David Goldman, AP

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A report released this week by the National Women’s Law Center asserts the emergence of a gap in health care between low-income women with and without health insurance in the wake states deciding whether or not to expand Medicaid coverage.

Low-income women without insurance who live in one of the 25 states without expanded coverage are significantly less likely to get basic health care and preventive services such as mammograms and HIV testing than low-income women with public or private health insurance, according to the report.

The report, which includes a state-by-state analysis, estimates that 3.1 million women with incomes below the poverty level -- who do not otherwise qualify for Medicaid -- don't have insurance.

“Low-income women without health insurance report going without needed care because of cost 2.5 times as often as low-income women with insurance," NWLC Vice President for Health and Reproductive Rights Judy Waxman said in a statement. "These disparities will continue in states that have not expanded health coverage through Medicaid."

As of Jan. 1, as part of the Affordable Care Act, 25 states and the District of Columbia have expanded their Medicaid programs to include more residents who previously would not have qualified for the subsidized coverage. Federal funding is being provided to pay for the expansion.

Ohio's expansion is expected to affect 275,000 people earning up to 138 percent of the federal poverty line.

Established in 1972, the NWLC is an independent group dedicated to expanding, defending and promoting women's rights. Go to bit.ly/1jqt3b8 for the full report.

Clues to Cancer: Patients, doctors on road to discovery

For 10 months, Plain Dealer reporter Angela Townsend and photographer Lynn Ischay followed 9 patients through their journey as study participants in Phase 1 trials at University Hospitals. We tell their stories here.

Follow Us

cleveland.com is powered by Plain Dealer Publishing Co. and Northeast Ohio Media Group. All rights reserved (About Us).The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Northeast Ohio Media Group LLC.